No. 1 health issue in Palestine is Israeli occupation

Javid Abdelmoneim, international president of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), argues that the primary health issue in the Palestinian territories is the Israeli occupation, citing its cumulative impact on Palestinians' ability to live healthy lives since October 7, 2023. He states that Israeli actions have led to widespread violence, the dismantling of healthcare systems, and obstruction of humanitarian aid in Gaza and the West Bank. Abdelmoneim highlights that June was the deadliest month since October 2025, with 1,110 Palestinians killed and 3,599 injured since the ceasefire began, while Israel expands its military control in Gaza. He notes the "yellow line" in Gaza, a shifting boundary that compresses over two million people into one-third of the territory, leading to extreme overcrowding and the spread of diseases due to a lack of clean water and sanitation. In the West Bank, he describes accelerated "ethnic cleansing, land dispossession, territorial fragmentation and economic strangulation," causing trauma and depression among patients. Abdelmoneim also mentions the targeting of healthcare workers, including the detention of MSF surgeon Mohammed Obeid, and the obstruction of humanitarian organizations and supplies. He concludes that world leaders have normalized Israel's conduct through "political support, military aid or silence," enabling the continuation of these policies, and calls for a drastic shift in policy to prioritize Palestinian dignity and ensure humanitarian access.